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Construction projects rarely unfold exactly as planned. Design updates, owner requests, site conditions and regulatory requirements often force teams to rethink decisions mid-project. That’s where construction change management becomes essential, helping project managers organize changes, communicate decisions and keep construction work aligned with budgets, schedules and contractual commitments. What Is Construction Change Management? Construction change management is the structured process used to evaluate, document, approve and implement modifications to a construction project’s original plan. It ensures that scope changes, change orders and design revisions are formally reviewed for cost, schedule, resource and quality impacts before work proceeds, allowing project teams to maintain control over project scope, budget and timeline. ProjectManager is award-winning construction project management software that gives construction companies tools to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget and within scope. It allows project managers to create detailed construction schedules, estimate costs, allocate resources, set budgets, track progress and compare estimated versus actual project outcomes using real-time dashboards and reports to quickly identify delays or cost overruns. Get started with ProjectManager for free today. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/critical-path-light-mode-gantt-construction-CTA.pngLearn more Why Is Construction Change Management Important? Even small adjustments to a construction plan ripple through the entire project. A design revision, field condition or owner request rarely affects only one task. Instead, it can alter costs, resource allocations, work sequencing and quality requirements, making construction change management critical for protecting the project’s scope, schedule and financial performance. Construction Budget: Changes to design specifications, materials or work scope almost always affect project costs. Construction change management helps teams estimate the financial impact of change orders before work proceeds, allowing contractors and owners to review cost adjustments, update construction budgets and avoid uncontrolled spending that could jeopardize project profitability. Resource Planning: When scope changes occur, labor crews, equipment and subcontractors may need to be reassigned or rescheduled. Effective construction change management helps project managers reassess workforce availability, adjust subcontractor commitments and ensure that the right resources remain aligned with updated project requirements. Quality Assurance and Control: Modifications to design documents, materials or construction methods can introduce new quality risks if they are not carefully evaluated. Through construction change management, teams review revised specifications, update inspection procedures and confirm that the modified work still meets project standards, building codes and contractual requirements. Construction Schedule: Changes to project scope frequently alter task dependencies and work sequencing. Because construction schedules often rely on a critical path—the chain of activities that determines the project’s earliest completion date—any change affecting those tasks can delay the entire project. Construction change management helps teams analyze schedule impacts before approving modifications. Construction Site Logistics: Field conditions, layout adjustments or revised work packages can disrupt established site workflows. Construction change management allows project teams to evaluate how modifications affect staging areas, equipment movement, material deliveries and crew coordination, preventing operational conflicts that could slow work or create safety risks on site. Who Is Responsible for Construction Change Management? On most projects, the project manager holds primary responsibility for construction change management. That role coordinates the evaluation, documentation and approval of scope changes while ensuring stakeholders understand the impacts. Although many participants contribute information, the project manager ultimately oversees the process and keeps change decisions aligned with project objectives. Project Manager: Leads the construction change management process by reviewing proposed changes, coordinating impact analysis and ensuring approvals are obtained before modifications affect the construction scope, schedule or budget. Owner or Client: Evaluates requested changes that affect project objectives, funding or scope expectations and provides formal approval when modifications require contractual or financial adjustments. Design Team (Architects and Engineers): Reviews design-related changes, evaluates technical feasibility and updates drawings, specifications or construction documents to reflect approved modifications. General Contractor: Assesses the practical impact of proposed changes on construction work, including cost implications, subcontractor coordination and construction schedule adjustments. Subcontractors: Provide technical input on specialized work, estimate labor or material impacts and communicate how scope revisions affect trade-specific tasks. Construction Estimator or Cost Engineer: Analyzes how scope modifications influence construction costs, prepares revised estimates and helps quantify the financial impact of change orders. Site Superintendent: Observes field conditions, identifies issues that may trigger changes and communicates practical construction constraints that influence how modifications should be implemented on site. /wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026_construction_ebook_banner-ad.jpg Construction Change Management Process Changes rarely arrive at convenient moments during a construction project. A design clarification, unexpected site condition or owner request can surface at any stage of the build. A structured construction change management process helps teams evaluate those changes carefully, document impacts and implement modifications without losing control of the project timeline or budget. 1. Identify the Need for a Change Work in the field often reveals conditions that were not fully anticipated during planning. A subcontractor might encounter unexpected soil conditions, an owner may request a design adjustment or inspectors may require compliance revisions. Construction change management begins when these situations are formally identified, documented and communicated so the project team can determine whether a modification is necessary. 2. Submit a Change Request Once a potential modification is recognized, the next step is to formally submit a change request. This documentation explains the proposed adjustment, the reason behind it and the portion of the project affected. Within construction change management, change requests ensure that scope revisions are recorded clearly before any work proceeds. /wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Change-Request-Screenshot-600x514.jpg 3. Evaluate Project Impacts Before any change moves forward, project teams must analyze how it will affect the broader construction plan. During this stage of construction change management, project managers review impacts on the construction budget, resource allocation, procurement plans and the project schedule, especially tasks that sit on the critical path. /wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Change-impact-assessment-template-screenshot-600x445.png 4. Review and Approve the Change After impacts are assessed, the proposed modification is submitted to the appropriate decision-makers. Owners, project managers and sometimes design professionals review the cost implications, schedule adjustments and contractual considerations. Construction change management relies on formal approvals so that changes become authorized project work rather than informal field decisions. /wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Change-Order-Screenshot-600x475.jpg 5. Update Project Documentation Approved changes must be reflected in official construction documentation. Drawings, specifications, construction schedules, procurement plans and cost forecasts may all require updates. Through construction change management, these revisions ensure that every stakeholder is working from the same set of current project documents. /wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Change-Log-Screenshot-1600x528.jpg Step 6: Implement and Track the Change Once documentation is updated, the project team moves forward with executing the modification in the field. Crews adjust their work plans, subcontractors coordinate revised tasks and project managers monitor progress. Construction change management continues during implementation by tracking cost variations, schedule impacts and overall project performance. More Free Construction Project Management Templates We’ve created dozens of free construction project management templates for Excel, Word and Google Sheets. Here are some that can be useful when managing changes. Change Management Plan Template This change management plan template helps project teams organize scope changes, approvals and documentation in one structured plan. It includes stakeholder mapping, risk analysis, impact assessments, communication planning and change tracking tools. Construction Daily Report Template This construction daily report template helps site teams document daily work activities, crew hours, equipment usage, deliveries, delays, meetings and safety inspections, creating a clear record of field conditions. Construction Scope of Work Template This construction scope of work template helps define project deliverables, responsibilities, timelines, resources and costs. By clarifying tasks, acceptance criteria and exclusions, it helps teams control scope changes. ProjectManager Is Award-Winning Construction Project Management Software ProjectManager is award-winning construction project management software built to support projects from preconstruction through closeout. It includes a robust set of features such as Gantt charts, timesheets, workload management charts and real-time dashboards and reports. The platform also offers unlimited cloud-based document storage and AI-driven project insights that help teams manage construction documents and track project activities. Watch the video below to see how it works. ProjectManager is online construction project management software that empowers teams to plan, manage and track their projects in real time. We connect architects and engineers in the office with your work crew on the job site so they can share files and comments to foster better collaboration. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post Construction Change Management: A Quick Guide appeared first on ProjectManager. 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Chloe Varnfield, a digital marketing specialist at Atelier Studios with nearly eight years in PPC, joined me to share the mistakes that shaped her career — and the lessons every advertiser should take from them. When Google sneaks settings past you Chloe’s first story centers on Google’s account-level automated assets setting — a feature so well hidden that many advertisers don’t know it exists until a client sends a screenshot asking why their headline looks completely wrong. The setting, buried behind a three-dot menu, defaults to on, meaning Google can automatically generate and serve headlines advertisers never wrote or approved. The takeaway: always audit your account-level settings, and treat every Google update as a potential default you’ll need to turn off. Why you should never make changes on a Friday A client asked Chloe to narrow their campaign’s location targeting mid-call. She made the change quickly — and accidentally excluded the UK entirely while targeting only the desired regions. Campaigns stopped delivering. It took three days of head-scratching before she audited the full campaign and found the culprit. The lesson she now swears by: never make significant changes on a Friday, and when something stops working, go straight to a full audit rather than waiting for the algorithm to “fix itself.” The time she listened to a Google rep — and tanked performance for two months Chloe’s most costly story involves a campaign that was performing at its best in years. A Google rep recommended switching bid strategy from Maximise Conversions to Maximise Conversion Value. She made the switch — and performance collapsed. For small to medium-sized businesses that already struggle to hit the conversion volume thresholds needed for smart bidding to work effectively, changing bid strategy is a high-stakes decision that shouldn’t be made on the spot. It took two months to recover, with the pressure of a major seasonal sale looming. She fixed it — but the lesson stuck: don’t let enthusiasm or a rep’s insistence override your judgment. Sit on big decisions. Trust your gut. The account mistakes that still happen in 2026 When auditing inherited accounts, Chloe consistently sees the same three problems: broken or absent conversion tracking (sometimes still pulling from Universal Analytics), broad match applied to brand campaigns — which makes it impossible to know whether results are genuinely driven by non-brand keywords — and accounts with zero negative keywords. These aren’t minor structural issues. They directly distort performance data and waste budget. On honesty, client relationships, and not spiralling Across all three of her own stories, Chloe’s client relationships survived because she communicated transparently — explaining what had gone wrong, what she was doing to fix it, and what the next step would be if that didn’t work. Her advice to anyone mid-crisis: breathe, be kind to yourself, stay calm, and remember that no one has died. The ability to fix problems under pressure is what builds expertise — and fixing something difficult often becomes your proudest professional moment. The AI mistake too many marketers are making On AI, Chloe is clear: using it to generate ad copy or proposals without reviewing or editing the output is lazy and obvious. AI should make you faster, not replace your judgment. Always put your own voice and review back into whatever it produces. View the full article

Lennar's first fiscal quarter earnings were down by more than half after three years of persistent trials which are testing consumer confidence and sentiment. View the full article

Federal bank enforcement actions have dropped sharply since the start of the second The President administration, but experts' views vary about whether less enforcement will result in a buildup of risk in the financial system. View the full article

As the war in Iran shocks global gas and oil prices, more Americans are considering home solar and searching for EVs. In the 11 days after the conflict began, EnergySage, an online marketplace for clean energy systems, saw a 17% increase in homeowners requesting quotes for solar installations, and a 23% increase in requests for solar plus a home battery. That’s compared to the 11 days before the escalation. The company notes that it can’t specifically credit those increases to one cause like the conflict; there may be multiple factors at play. But it still believes the war is part of this directional change. And that growth is notable, a spokesperson adds, because demand for these installations has been soft since the federal tax credits for such home upgrades expired in December. EnergySage has also seen a 30% increase in requests for EV charger installations. It’s not yet clear if that increase is directly related to a surge in EV sales. (It could be, for example, that drivers who already own plug-in hybrids are actually going to start plugging them in instead of relying on gas.) But there are signs of a growing interest in that market too. Edmunds, an online retailer for new and used cars, says searches for hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and EVs are up 20% in one week. Sunlight doesn’t need to go through the Strait of Hormuz The conflict in Iran is highlighting how our energy sources move around the world—and how vulnerable they can be to geopolitical events. With the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas has essentially been removed from the global market, causing prices to surge. But as many climate experts have been noting, sunlight (and wind) don’t need to travel through that strait. Though surging oil and gas prices have dominated headlines since the Iran conflict began, experts say natural gas prices could be hit even harder, which would directly affect Americans’ utility prices. Renewable power can buffer countries, and individuals, from fossil fuel price volatility. And Americans are understanding that too. “When energy prices spike, people start looking for ways to take control of their bills,” says EnergySage CEO Naman Trivedi. “Geopolitical instability has a way of making energy independence feel urgent and personal,” he adds. “People don’t want their family’s utility bills tied to events happening halfway around the world.” Solar leads to real energy bill savings Natural gas prices have already been on an upward climb, in part because of the AI data center boom, which has spiked energy bills for Americans. The war’s effect on overall energy prices could mean Americans will hit a “breaking point,” says Jesse Lee, senior advisor for Clean Energy Economy at Climate Power, a climate communications and advocacy organization, “where it’s like, ‘I have to do something about this.’” “The things they’ve been postponing that they know can save them money in the long term, this is kind of the moment where people start to pull the trigger,” he adds. Those monetary savings are real. A June 2024 study from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that the median residential solar customer saves $1,987 annually off their home energy bills. Adding solar requires an up-front cost, of course, but even factoring off-bill costs in, the median customer sees a total net savings of $691. Though the The President administration removed the Inflation Reduction Act’s federal incentives for home solar installations, cities and states often still offer rebates, Lee says, that could reduce installation costs. Americans can find information about those programs through Rewiring America. The way off the fossil fuel merry-go-round Switching to an EV also comes with a tangible financial impact. A 2024 report found that EV drivers save an average of $100 every month, or $1,200 a year, on fuel, compared to gas cars. Electric vehicles are also cheaper to maintain—and sticker prices are dropping, particularly for used EVs. “There’s always been a strong connection between spiking gas prices and people starting to look at EVs,” Lee says. What’s unique about this particular energy price spike, he adds, is that it coincides with solar and EVs becoming affordable for everyday Americans. It’s not clear how long this conflict will last, and what that means for energy prices in the future. But this likely isn’t the last geopolitical event to disrupt fossil fuel markets. Americans seem to be realizing that, despite the The President administration’s move away from renewables, they can make their households less vulnerable to such price shocks through home solar and EVs. “There’s just absolutely no question that in the short term, but also the long term . . . this is how you escape the fact that we’re going to have international entanglements that spike gas prices for, probably, forever,” Lee says. Home solar and EVs, he adds, are “the way off those merry-go-rounds.” View the full article

Signal is one of my favorite messaging apps because of its focus on privacy and security. I use it to message my closest friends regularly, and in the process, I've discovered a fair few hidden features that I now use every day. From shielding your phone number from other users, to preventing hackers from breaking into your account, these hacks will help you make the most of Signal. Hide your phone number from everyone Credit: Pranay Parab You can use Signal without revealing your phone number to anyone. You'll still need to sign up to Signal with a phone number—something the company uses to stop spammers from running amok. But once your account's created, open Signal on your phone, tap the profile icon in the top left corner, and go to Settings. Now select Privacy > Phone Number > Nobody in both the options on that page. That ensures that no one can see your phone number or use your phone number to find you on Signal. Set up "Registration Lock" to protect your account from hackersTo enhance your Signal account security, you can set up a registration lock on the app. This will stop anyone from setting up your Signal account on a new device without an additional PIN. If your SIM card gets stolen or hijacked, hackers won't be able to use that to get into your Signal account if they don't know this PIN. To set it up, go to Signal settings > Account and enable Registration lock. This option only appears on Signal's mobile apps. Use "Screen Security" to block screenshots in your Signal appSignal added a useful feature that disables app screenshots on Windows 11. This was added in response to Microsoft's controversial Windows Recall feature, in order to prevent your Signal messages from being logged without your explicit consent. But it's also a helpful tool for preventing anyone from taking screenshots of your Signal chats. You can check if it's enabled by going to Signal settings > Privacy > Screen Security on the Windows app. If you primarily use Signal on mobile, you can also protect your chats in a different way. Go to Signal settings > Privacy and enable Hide Screen in App Switcher on iPhone, or Screen Security on Android. This will hide Signal's messages when you're in the app switcher, which prevents others from seeing your Signal chats when you're moving between apps. Use Screen Lock to protect your Signal chats behind a face scanScreen Lock helps ensure that no one but you can open your Signal app. This will require additional biometric authentication to access Signal, and reduces the chances of people snooping on your chats. You can enable this by going to Signal settings > Privacy > Screen Lock on the mobile apps. Create notification profiles in Signal to block senders at specific times Credit: Pranay Parab Notification profiles let you disable notifications from certain contacts at specific times. For example, you could block alerts from coworkers outside of working hours. The feature even works for allowing or blocking alerts for specific days of the week. You can set it up on Signal's desktop apps by clicking the gear icon in the left pane of the app, and going to Notifications > Notification profiles > Set up. Once you do, you can pair this feature with chat folders to keep alerts from different contacts in separate tabs in Signal. In Signal settings on the desktop apps, go to Chats > Chat folders > Set up. Use Disappearing Messages to automatically delete textsSignal also lets you set up an automatic text deletion timer, called "Disappearing Messages." When enabled, all messages will self-destruct after a set period of time. If you want to enable this across all of your chats, go to Signal settings > Privacy > Disappearing Messages and choose the duration you prefer. Alternatively, you can enable it for specific chats too. Just open any chat on Signal, tap the contact's name up top, and select Disappearing Messages to reveal the feature. You can disable Stories on Signal entirelyFor some reason, Signal lets you post stories. If you're like me, you're really only interested in stories in apps like Snapchat, which were designed around ephemeral posts. Luckily, Signal lets you completely disable this feature—which is exactly what I did the moment I found the option. Go to Signal settings > Stories to do the same. Use "Spoiler" formatting to send messages in "Invisible Ink" Credit: Pranay Parab If you're familiar with iMessage's text effects, you'll know about Invisible Ink, which hides your text until the recipient taps the message. Signal has the same thing, but it's called Spoiler formatting, since you can use it to hide spoilers when you're talking about books, movies, games, or TV shows. To use it, type a message in any Signal chat, then select a part of the text. Now, go to Format > Spoiler, and you'll find that the selected text is now hidden. (On desktop, "Spoiler" is available as an option once you highlight your text.) Relay calls through Signal serversTo avoid revealing your IP address when you make voice or video calls using Signal, you can relay those calls through Signal's servers. This feature is under Signal settings > Privacy > Advanced > Always Relay Calls. Enabling it reduces call quality slightly, but it's better for your privacy. Use "Verify Safety Number" to make sure you're texing the right contactTo ensure that Signal's end-to-end encryption is working, you can use Verify Safety Number. This ensures that you're messaging the person you contacted, and not someone else logging into their Signal account. The safety number only changes when a person reinstalls Signal or logs in from a new device. To view a safety number, open a Signal chat, tap the contact's name up top, and select View Safety Number. If you meet your contact in person, you can either scan the QR code on this page, or just check if the safety number is the same. You can also match safety numbers over a call to ensure that your chat isn't compromised. Once you've done that, you can tap Mark as Verified, and Signal will alert you if the safety number ever changes. At that point, you should verify the safety number with your contact once more before you continue chatting. Signal has a helpful blog post that explains how this feature works in detail, if you want to learn more. View the full article

A significant shift in the enforcement of federal program integrity is underway in California, as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announce a concerted effort to combat fraud in federal programs. SBA Inspector General William W. Kirk and USDA Inspector General John Walk met with United States Attorney for the Southern District of California, Adam Gordon, highlighting a proactive stance against the growing complexities of fraud schemes targeting government initiatives. California has been flagged as a high-risk zone for fraud due to the intricate nature and scale of operations that exploit federal funding. With this partnership, both agencies plan to coordinate more aggressively on identifying and punishing fraudulent activities, safeguarding taxpayer interests and the integrity of programs designed to support small businesses. “Administrator Loeffler has been clear from Day One that there is zero tolerance for fraud in SBA programs,” stated Kirk. His emphasis on a fresh approach to tackling fraud mirrors growing concerns about increasingly sophisticated schemes that enter through the cracks of federal oversight. The collaboration between the SBA and USDA seeks to foster a landscape of stringent checks and balances. This joint initiative follows the recent signing of a data-sharing agreement between both Inspector Generals in Los Angeles, demonstrating a commitment to cross-agency cooperation. Such alignment aims to not only detect fraud more effectively but also deter potential offenders by ensuring that the consequences of fraud are tangible and severe. USDA Inspector General Walk echoed Kirk’s sentiment, expressing his determination to confront fraudulent activities affecting American taxpayers, “We will combine expertise and resources to deter and bring to account criminal fraudsters who steal from American taxpayers.” For small business owners, this heightened enforcement could offer several benefits. The promise of stronger oversight means that there may be more robust protection for legitimate operators who rely on federal programs, such as loans and grants available through the SBA. These provisions are crucial for many small businesses, especially those recovering from setbacks exacerbated by the pandemic. Fraudulent claims not only divert resources away from legitimate borrowers but can also undermine trust in federal programs. As integrity is restored and fraudsters face accountability, small business owners may witness improved access to resources and better resource allocation within federal initiatives. However, potential challenges remain. Increased scrutiny may put additional pressure on small businesses to ensure compliance with all federal guidelines and reporting requirements, especially in complex areas like accounting and program eligibility. The risk of unintentional violations could necessitate a reevaluation of internal practices, making it crucial for business owners to remain informed and vigilant. As both agencies align their efforts, small business owners should take heed of their responsibility to maintain transparency and comply with program regulations. Integrating robust compliance measures and consulting with experts may be prudent steps to mitigate risks related to the evolving enforcement landscape. This robust partnership between the SBA and USDA presents substantial implications for the small business ecosystem in California. The targeted approach aims to not only pursue fraudsters aggressively but also to reinforce the integrity of federal programs, ensuring that aid reaches those who need it most. For more details on this ongoing initiative, visit the SBA’s official announcement at SBA.gov. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Feds Unite to Tackle Rising Fraud Threats Targeting California Programs" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. MacBook used to be largely repairable, upgradable things. If too many tabs slowed down macOS, you could add more RAM; if you ran out of storage, you could install a larger hard drive; if the battery was old, you could easily replace it. But as Apple—and the industry at large—chased thinner and sleeker designs, laptops in general became harder to work on. Companies started soldering all components together onto the board, which made it possible to produce thin and light machines, but made it impossible to upgrade them, and wildly impractical to repair. This hasn't changed all that much in the Apple silicon era. While Apple's modern MacBooks have some serious staying power and offer a lot of value for the money, they aren't easy to fix. Far from it, actually. Take the M5 MacBook Pro: When iFixit took a look at this laptop, they found that Apple requires you to remove all of the components from the MacBook just to replace the battery—at least, following Apple's official instructions. The MacBook Neo is Apple's most repairable laptop in yearsBut there is hope for those of us that want Apple to make their devices more repairable, from a product I wouldn't have expected Apple to make all that repairable in the first place: the MacBook Neo. Apple's new, budget-friendly MacBook has been all the rage over the past week and a half, largely, in part, due to its starting price of $599 ($499 with an education discount). While that MSRP makes the Neo a great choice for students, parents, and, really, anyone who wants an affordable Mac, I imagined it would also make it more of a consumable product. Would Apple really put all that much effort into making a $500 MacBook last that long? As it turns out, they kind of did. In addition to using more premium parts than other products in this price range (i.e. aluminum vs. plastic), the MacBook Neo simplifies the repair process and makes it easier to replace key components. Ars Technica dug into the Neo's documentation, and found that repairs for most components have fewer steps and use fewer tools than the M5 MacBook Air. That will be good news for anyone who keeps their MacBook Neo for a few years, and deals with an aging battery: When it comes time to replace that battery, you'll simply need to remove screws, clips, and flex cables. That might sound a bit complicated, but it's far simpler than other MacBooks, which deal with batteries that are glued down with adhesive. On these models, you need to pull on finicky tabs to break that adhesive, after removing even more screws. YouTube channel TECH RE-NU came to similar conclusions in their "speedrun" teardown. They were able to disassemble the Neo in less than 10 minutes, "which is absolutely amazing for an Apple laptop." They praised the lack of adhesives and sticky tape, and the inclusion of modular parts (including modular USB-C ports, speakers, and headphone jack) all while keeping the price down: Another key point? The keyboard is replaceable by itself. For years, if something was wrong with your MacBook's keyboard, Apple made you replace the entire "Top Case," or the top half of the bottom of your laptop. That also includes the battery, making this an unnecessarily expensive fix. Now, the keyboard and Top Case are separate repair parts. You'll have to deal with a number of screws to get to the keyboard, but that's much simpler (and cheaper) than replacing a significant fraction of the MacBook itself. Now, the Neo still isn't upgradable. It infamously comes with only 8GB of RAM, and it'll run that 8GB of RAM until the day you part with it. You're also stuck with the storage size you choose at the time of purchase, so if you think you'll want more than 256GB, you'll want to opt for the 512GB model (which, conveniently, comes with Touch ID in the keyboard). If you run out of space on yours, you'll need to pick up an external drive to keep saving files locally. Why is the MacBook Neo Apple's most repairable Mac?So, why is the MacBook Neo, Apple's cheapest MacBook ever, also its most repairable? Apple doesn’t say, but seeing as the MacBook Neo is targeted towards students—especially younger students—it’d make sense to make these things easier and cheaper to fix. If parents and schools start buying the MacBook Neo for elementary-aged students, these things are going to be subject to drops, spills, and other rough use. To make them unrepairable would get expensive fast, and may dissuade parents and schools alike from investing in them further over something like Chromebooks. If that's true, this is only a net benefit for consumers in general. Anyone who buys a MacBook Neo gets the advantage of a machine that isn't too costly to repair when it comes time. And while the A18 Pro may start to show its age sooner than a brand-new M5 chip, this policy could stretch your time with your MacBook Neo even longer. View the full article

More than 444,000 people who rented homes with Invitation Homes will soon receive checks as part of a $47.2 million settlement stemming from a 2024 lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission. The Dallas-based company, which owns and/or manages more than 110,000 single-family homes in the U.S., is accused of deceiving 441,131 consumers with undisclosed fees and charges totaling $45 or more. People who paid for certain fees and charges between January 2021 and September 2024 will be eligible for checks that will be sent by the FTC. One of the largest single-family home landlords in the country, Invitation Homes is currently advertising thousands of available rentals in 13 different states, heavily concentrated in core markets like Atlanta, Tampa, Phoenix, Charlotte, Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, Denver, and Las Vegas. As part of the FTC settlement, the corporate landlord will be required to “clearly disclose its leasing prices, establish policies and procedures to handle security deposit refunds fairly, and stop other unlawful behavior.” Its rental listings currently include a breakdown of the various fees included in the all-in-rent fee. Renters who paid Invitation Homes $45 or more for covered fees or charges between January 2021 and September 2024—and who have not already received a credit or refund from the company—will be eligible for payment. The FTC will be sending out the checks, which must be cashed within 90 days. Though the company agreed to pay more than $48 million to compensate consumers, that amount is slightly more than the amount the FTC will send out—totaling about $106, on average, for each affected renter. INVITATION HOMES INVITES SCRUTINY The settlement comes about 18 months after the FTC sued Invitation Homes in September 2024 alleging various unlawful actions, according to the settlement details. Such actions included deceiving applicants about lease costs, charging renters undisclosed fees, failing to inspect homes before residents moved in, unfairly withholding tenants’ security deposits or imposing deceptive and unfair charges when renters moved out, and not permitting renters to opt out of certain services, like “smart home technology.” The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from Fast Company. Dallas Tanner, CEO of Invitation Homes, was asked about the company’s legal issues with the FTC during a February meeting to discuss another company he leads, MIXT Industries, leasing a golf course in Polson, Montana. Though Tanner said he “can’t speak publicly about things like that,” he did tell the public meeting that “it became very popular” during President Joe Biden’s administration to “sort-of pick on housing groups,” according to reporting by the Lake County Leader. But Invitation Homes has been under fire on multiple fronts recently—and from both sides of the political aisle. It’s among a number of large corporate buyers of single-family homes that’s drawn the ire of President Donald The President and other lawmakers in Washington, D.C. and beyond. This January, The President signed an executive order, “Stopping Wall Street from Competing with Main Street Homebuyers” to crackdown on large, institutional investors purchasing single-family homes. In 2024, the company agreed to a $19.9 million settlement to resolve claims that alleged Invitation Homes had failed to obtain the necessary permits to avoid permit fees and property tax increases in 35 California cities. Shares of Invitation Homes (NYSE:INVH) rose nearly 0.4% on Friday, though the stock has tumbled more than 23% in the past year. View the full article

It’s possible that the IRS may owe you some money from the Covid era. Last month, a U.S. Court of Federal Claims decision broadened the interpretation of a particular part of the tax code, IRC Sec. 7508A, which concerned the postponement of tax deadlines during disasters, such as the Covid pandemic. Specifically, a February ruling in Kwong v. United States (2025)—a lawsuit concerning a plaintiff’s attempt to get a refund for tax penalties—decided that deadlines for filing tax returns, paying taxes, or filing for refunds needed to be completed by July 11, 2023. So, if a taxpayer was supposed to file their 2020 tax return by April 15, 2021, the date was shifted to July 11, 2023. Accordingly, this could have caused incorrect calculations by the IRS in terms of penalties, refunds, or claims of interest due on refunds. In effect, the courts are saying that the IRS didn’t have standing to charge penalties or interest while the emergency postponement was in effect, plus 60 days. The public health emergency caused by the pandemic lasted between January 20, 2020 and ended May 11, 2023. Sixty days after that: July 11, 2023. In short: It’s possible that taxpayers could be due for a refund, or to have penalties or interest levied against them for unpaid taxes relieved. It’s possible, though, that the IRS and federal government can appeal the ruling, so nothing is set in stone. How to find out if you may be owed money, and what to do next For taxpayers who feel like they may be owed some additional relief—that is, they think they were unfairly charged penalties or interest during the period between January 20, 2020 and July 10, 2023—it’s possible to request a refund. One company, Western Digital, took action last month, suing the IRS for $21 million claiming that it was unfairly charged interest during the disaster period. As for individual taxpayers, you’ll want to check your tax records to see if you were actually hit with any penalties or interest during the disaster period, to ensure you have standing. That can be done by looking at your tax account transcript, available from the IRS. Further, you or a tax professional can file Form 843 with the IRS to request a refund using the information on the transcript. View the full article

A recent class-action lawsuit against David Protein, filed in January, alleges the company misrepresented the amount of calories and fat in its popular, healthy-branded bar, claiming that it had “way more” of both than customers were led to believe. Now, in response to the lawsuit, social media is having a field day with comparisons to the 2004 movie Mean Girls, with one TikTok user and apparent David Protein customer posting, “I have been Regina Georged.” Here’s a quick brief on what’s happening. Wait, remind me, what’s the ‘Mean Girls’ plot again? If you’re like me, you’ve seen Mean Girls a dozen times. The plot is a hilarious and biting commentary on the social pressure on American teenage girls today. One major through-line in the high school teen girl drama is when protagonist and outcast Cady Heron (played by Lindsay Lohan) decides to fight back against popular Queen Bee Regina George (played by Rachel McAdams), and dupes her into eating fattening Kälteen Bars protein bars, pretending they are for weight loss: So how is this like the David protein bar lawsuit? David Protein says its bars have 150 calories, 28 grams of protein, two grams of fat, and zero grams of sugar. However, the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York last month alleges the bars actually have 83% more calories and 400% more fat, according to third-party testing. Linus Technologies, the main defendant in the class-action lawsuit, operates under brand name David Protein. Fast Company has reached out to David Protein for comment. The lawsuit claims customers unwittingly bought the product without knowing its actual nutritional content, and requests payment for their damages or $50, whichever is more. David Protein, for its part, did acknowledge the social media references to Mean Girls. “No one is getting Regina Georged” David Protein posted on Instagram on Wednesday. “And the David bar still has 150 calories.” View the full article

If you want to improve your website’s engagement, incorporating specific video types is crucial. Start with compelling tutorials that provide value, informative explainer videos that clarify concepts, and intriguing testimonials that instill trust in your brand. Furthermore, engaging storytelling videos can create emotional connections, whereas interactive Q&A sessions encourage community interaction. Don’t overlook motivational content and behind-the-scenes footage to humanize your brand. Each type plays a significant role in increasing viewer retention and boosting conversion rates, but which ones should you prioritize first? Key Takeaways Create compelling tutorials to boost viewer retention and enhance user satisfaction through step-by-step instructions and clear visuals. Utilize informative explainer videos to simplify complex concepts, increase conversion rates, and establish brand authority. Incorporate captivating testimonials to build trust, enhance brand recall, and encourage customer loyalty through authentic customer experiences. Engage audiences with interactive Q&A sessions for real-time dialogue that enhances community feeling and viewer retention. Share behind-the-scenes footage to humanize your brand, increase engagement, and create a stronger connection with potential customers. Compelling Tutorials When you want to improve viewer engagement on your website, incorporating compelling tutorials is a strategic choice. These tutorials can markedly boost viewer retention rates by up to 95%, making complex information accessible. Since 68% of consumers prefer learning through video tutorials rather than text, using website videos is crucial for effective communication. Aim for short tutorial videos lasting 1-2 minutes, as they engage viewers better than longer options. Include step-by-step instructions and clear visuals, which can elevate user satisfaction by 60% and increase shareability. To further engage your audience, consider adding interactive elements like quizzes or clickable links. This encourages users to actively participate, making it easier for them to watch video online and retain information on video watching websites. Informative Explainer Videos Informative explainer videos play a vital role in simplifying complex ideas, making it easier for you to grasp fundamental concepts quickly. By using clear messaging and engaging visual elements, these videos focus on problem-solving, ensuring that viewers stay engaged during effectively conveying your product’s benefits. Furthermore, incorporating a call-to-action can greatly improve viewer engagement, encouraging them to take the next step after watching. Clear Messaging Benefits Effective communication is essential for engaging your audience, and informative explainer videos serve as a strong tool to achieve this. These videos simplify complex concepts, ensuring your viewers retain information effectively—95% of them do. By providing clear and concise messaging, you can improve user engagement, keeping them on your site longer and reducing bounce rates by up to 60%. Here’s a quick overview of the benefits of using informative explainer videos: Benefit Statistic Impact Viewer Retention 95% Better comprehension Bounce Rate Reduction Up to 60% Increased engagement Purchase Influence 84% Higher conversions Conversion Rate Increase Up to 80% Improved sales Authority Establishment – Trust building Utilizing video services on popular video watch sites can amplify these advantages. Engaging Visual Elements To capture and maintain your audience’s attention, incorporating engaging visual elements into your explainer videos is vital. Informative explainer videos simplify complex concepts, making them easier to understand. Studies show that viewers retain 95% of a message delivered through video. Including animated graphics and dynamic visuals can boost viewer interest, as 82% of internet traffic now comes from video. You’ll find that users spend 2.6 times longer on pages featuring video content. Aim for videos between 60 to 90 seconds to cater to shorter attention spans. Finally, don’t forget a strong call-to-action; 84% of people say a brand’s video has convinced them to buy. If you’re wondering how can I watch video, consider adding these elements to your video web site. Problem-Solving Focus Explainer videos play a significant role in addressing common challenges faced by your audience. By simplifying complex concepts, these videos improve user experience and boost viewer satisfaction. This leads to higher conversion rates and increased engagement. Here are key benefits of informative explainer videos: They achieve a 95% retention rate, ensuring your message sticks. Videos that address pain points can increase conversions by up to 80%. Optimizing with keywords improves search rankings, making it 53 times more likely for visitors to find you. Typically ranging from 1-2 minutes, these videos maintain viewer attention effectively in today’s fast-paced digital environment. Captivating Testimonials Though many factors contribute to a consumer’s decision-making process, enthralling testimonials stand out as a potent tool for building trust and credibility. Video testimonials can greatly impact your conversion rates, boosting them by up to 80% because of their authenticity and relatability. When you include these videos on your landing pages, users tend to spend 2.6 times more time engaging with the content, enhancing overall engagement. Remarkably, 92% of consumers are more likely to trust a business after watching a testimonial video, showcasing the influence of personal endorsements. Furthermore, videos featuring customer success stories can lead to a 64% increase in brand recall, making them an effective strategy for reinforcing your brand identity and encouraging customer loyalty. Engaging Storytelling Videos When you create engaging storytelling videos, you’re not just sharing information; you’re building a narrative that connects with your audience. These videos evoke strong emotional connections, leading to increased viewer retention and value. To maximize engagement, consider these crucial elements: Relatable Characters: Use characters that resonate with your audience, improving emotional investment and nurturing a sense of community. Humor or Inspiration: Incorporate humor or inspirational themes to make complex ideas relatable and memorable. Conciseness: Keep your videos between 1-2 minutes long to maintain interest and deliver key messages effectively. Research indicates that 84% of viewers are persuaded to buy after watching a storytelling video, highlighting its influence in driving conversions. Emphasizing narrative can greatly improve your website’s engagement. Interactive Q&A Sessions Interactive Q&A sessions serve as a strong tool for enhancing audience engagement, allowing you to create a dynamic dialogue with your viewers. About 70% of consumers prefer live interactions, promoting a sense of community and connection. By incorporating real-time questions, you can address viewer concerns directly, with 45% of participants feeling more valued when their queries are answered. These sessions can double viewer retention rates, encouraging active participation instead of passive observation. Providing video summaries of past Q&As can boost viewership by 60%, attracting new audiences to previously discussed topics. Utilizing polling and feedback features during the sessions can increase viewer satisfaction by 30%, tailoring content to audience interests and ensuring a more engaging experience overall. Motivational Content Motivational content can play an essential role in enhancing viewer engagement on your website. By showcasing inspiring success stories and emphasizing the importance of overcoming challenges together, you can tap into your audience’s emotions and encourage them to connect with your brand. This type of content not just nurtures a sense of community but additionally increases viewer retention and sharing rates, making it a valuable addition to your video strategy. Inspiring Success Stories Inspiring success stories serve as influential tools for brands aiming to engage their audience effectively. These narratives create emotional connections, as 92% of consumers prefer brands that tell relatable stories. When you use real-life success stories in videos, you can boost viewer engagement by up to 52%. Furthermore, incorporating motivational elements improves retention rates, with viewers retaining 95% of the message delivered through video. Consider these key benefits: Diverse success stories appeal to 70% of consumers, increasing engagement levels. 84% of people say a brand’s story influenced their purchasing decisions. Emotional connections nurture brand loyalty and trust, crucial for long-term success. Overcoming Challenges Together When facing challenges, many individuals find strength in shared experiences, as they realize they’re not alone in their struggles. Motivational videos focused on overcoming obstacles can inspire viewers, with 70% feeling motivated to act afterward. Utilizing storytelling techniques improves personal relatability, leading to a 52% increase in emotional investment and engagement. By presenting real-life success stories, these videos nurture a sense of community and resilience, encouraging viewers to share their own challenges. Furthermore, impactful visuals and uplifting music amplify the emotional impact, making messages more memorable. Including calls-to-action at the end prompts viewers to reflect on their situations and take actionable steps toward their goals, finally boosting overall engagement on your website. Behind-the-Scenes Footage Behind-the-scenes footage serves as a potent tool for brands looking to connect more effectively with their audience. By revealing the people and processes behind your products, you cultivate trust and authenticity. This type of content can greatly boost engagement and retention rates. Consider these key benefits: Humanizes Your Brand: Viewers see the faces and stories behind your company, making it relatable. Increases Shareability: With 86% of viewers preferring video content, your behind-the-scenes clips are more likely to be shared, enhancing visibility. Showcases Company Culture: Offering insights into team dynamics and values can resonate with potential customers, making them feel like insiders. Incorporating behind-the-scenes footage can lead to increased purchase likelihood, with 64% of consumers responding positively to such content. Frequently Asked Questions How Do Videos Increase Engagement? Videos increase engagement by capturing attention effectively, as users are more likely to spend time on pages with video content. They improve information retention, allowing viewers to remember 95% of a message from video, compared to just 10% from text. Furthermore, videos can enhance conversion rates considerably on landing pages and boost SEO rankings, making websites more visible. This combination of factors leads to higher interaction and engagement with your content. Is It Good to Put Videos on Your Website? Yes, including videos on your website is beneficial. Videos can considerably increase user engagement, as visitors tend to spend more time on pages that feature video content. Moreover, they boost your site’s visibility, making it more likely to rank on Google‘s first page. Videos likewise improve message retention, helping viewers remember your information better. In addition, they can lower bounce rates and encourage users to explore other pages or products on your site. What Type of Content Gets the Most Engagement? To get the most engagement, focus on video content that addresses your audience’s needs directly. Product demos and how-to videos provide practical insights, whereas testimonials build trust through real customer experiences. Explainer videos simplify complex topics, improving retention greatly. Interactive videos engage viewers through quizzes and polls, encouraging active participation. Keep videos concise, ideally between 60 to 90 seconds, to cater to shorter attention spans whilst effectively delivering your core message. How Long Should Video Content Be to Maximize Engagement? To maximize engagement, your video content should typically be between 60 to 90 seconds long. This duration helps maintain viewer interest without overwhelming them. Aim to convey your core message within the first 15 seconds to quickly capture attention. Research indicates that videos under two minutes are 59% more likely to engage viewers. If your video exceeds this length, make certain you change visuals every 15-25 seconds to retain audience focus. Conclusion Incorporating these seven video types into your website can greatly improve engagement. From tutorials that educate to testimonials that build credibility, each video serves a unique purpose. Informative explainer videos clarify complex ideas, whereas storytelling connects with viewers on a personal level. Interactive sessions and motivational content cultivate community, and behind-the-scenes footage adds a human touch to your brand. By utilizing these strategies, you can improve viewer retention, boost conversion rates, and strengthen relationships with your audience. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "7 Must-Have Videos for Boosting Website Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Leading banks forecast oil could push well above $100 as The President says US can keep fighting ‘forever’View the full article

If you're a Chrome user, this is your reminder not to ignore available security updates. Google is pushing an emergency patch for a zero-day vulnerability that has been exploited in the wild, and a second zero-day has been identified and is expected to be fixed in a future update. As a reminder, zero-days are security vulnerabilities that have been actively exploited or publicly disclosed before the developer releases an official fix. These latest Chrome bugs are the second and third zero-days addressed so far in 2026—Google patched the first back in February. What this Google Chrome patch fixesThe vulnerability addressed with the current update is labeled as CVE-2026-3910 and is an inappropriate implementation in V8, Google's JavaScript and WebAssembly engine. The flaw was reported by the Google Threat Analysis Group on March 10, though no additional details as to how it has been exploited have been released. Google initially planned to patch a second zero-day, labeled CVE-2026-3909, with this update, an out-of-bounds write weakness in the 2D graphics library (Skia). When exploited, attackers could crash Chrome or execute code remotely. The fix for that vulnerability is now expected in a future update. What Chrome users need to doGoogle released a Stable Channel update on March 12, so you should ensure you are on the latest version of Chrome: 146.0.7680.75/76 for Windows/Mac and 146.0.7680.75 for Linux. It could take several days or even weeks to roll out to everyone, so install it as soon as you see the option. You can check your version via the Chrome menu > About Google Chrome. If you regularly quit and restart your browser, the update will be applied automatically—or you can do it manually by tapping the three dots in the top-right corner of the browser window. You'll need to restart Chrome to finalize the update. View the full article

FIGRE 2026-HF3 will repay noteholders on a pro rata basis but is subject to a provision that requires the deal to repay noteholders sequentially after a credit event. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. It hasn't even been a month since Samsung announced the new Galaxy S26 lineup of phones, and the flagship version, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which starts at $1,299.99, is already getting a solid deal from Amazon: You can get a $200 Amazon gift card when placing your order through the online retailer. The deal applies to all four colors, and both the basic 256GB version and the maxed-out 512GB storage option as well. It's worth noting that if you plan to do a trade-in, Samsung offers better trade-in credits than Amazon, going up to $720. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra + $200 Gift Card 256GB, Privacy Display, Galaxy AI, AI Camera, Super Fast Charging 3.0, Durable Battery, 2026, US 1 Year Warranty $1,299.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $1,299.99 at Amazon The new Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is impressive, both in specs, design, and with practical new features. The most impressive new feature you'll notice is the built-in privacy display, which works like a privacy screen you would buy from a third-party seller. It's a feature no phone company has tried before, but if it works, I wouldn't be surprised if others follow suit. (The feature can be toggled on and off.) The cameras are excellent, with three lenses (200MP, 50MP, 50MP, and 10MP). The front-facing camera is a 12MP. You'll notice the hardware isn't very different from the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but there are new features. One is the pro video recording feature, which lets you record to external drives and shoot in the APV codec (Samsung's pro video codec); more advanced photographers will enjoy the higher resolution video formats. There's also a new video stabilizer to keep your videos from looking bumpy, new AI processors to bring out details in photos, better night-time shooting features, and more. You'll notice there is a clear price jump compared to the previous generation, but hopefully the $200 Amazon gift card helps alleviate that pain. You can learn more about the Galaxy S26 Ultra on PCMag's s"excellent" review. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $119.99 (List Price $179.00) Samsung Galaxy S26 512GB + $100 Amazon Gift Card (Black) — $1,099.99 (List Price $1,099.99) Google Pixel 10a 128GB 6.3" Unlocked Smartphone + $100 Gift Card — $599.00 (List Price $599.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00) Amazon Fire TV Soundbar — $99.99 (List Price $119.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has said it would commit $100 million to training the next generation of skilled trades workers who can support a growing demand for new infrastructure. In its announcement, BlackRock explained that its philanthropic Future Builders Initiative will “help address urgent labor needs,” noting that there’s been an increase in “demand for workers in skilled trades such as electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, and ironworkers.” The company said that demand is expected to continue to surge in the coming years, and explained that it would help to meet that demand by supporting future workers during all stages of training through licensure. “Throughout our history, tradespeople have built our country,” Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, who also serves as the chairman of the AI Infrastructure Partnership. said in the announcement. “America needs an estimated $10 trillion in infrastructure investment by 2033 to modernize aging systems and build new energy, digital, and AI infrastructure. Capital alone is not enough – people are central to building our nation’s future.” The announcement comes at a time when the rate of joblessness for Gen Z is surging, and college enrollment may be on the decline. As more young adults skip college degrees, unconvinced that four years of college, and oftentimes, taking on the burden of thousands in student loans will actually ensure a financially stable future, they’re pursuing blue-collar work more often. According to a 2025 Resume Builder report, 42% of Gen Z adults are turning to the trades in the wake of rising economic concerns and growing job instability. Experts say that a greater investment in the trades can help solve some of today’s current workforce challenges. Julian Scadden, CEO of Nexstar Network, an organization that helps skilled trades workers grow their business, says those jobs are “hand-on, high-impact and future proof.” Scadden explains that, “For too long, we’ve treated the trades as a fallback rather than a first-choice career option, but that perception is finally changing. The need isn’t just a flash in the pan, as there are longer term prospects and enormous opportunities for people in skilled trade careers.” That certainly feels true as concerns about finding a job that can actually enable young adults to afford modern living are real, and they’re rampant. But cost of living conversations aside, also driving those concerns are fears around AI taking human jobs. Interestingly, while AI may be able to take on a growing number of tasks once done by human workers, it’s also increasing the need for more skilled trade workers (at least for now). When speaking at the World Economic Forum alongside Larry Fink in January, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang spoke to the fact that demand for skilled trade workers is surging as construction for AI data centers rises. “This is the largest infrastructure buildout in history and that’s gonna create a lot of jobs,” Huang said, while adding that pay for skilled trade work is increasing at the same time. “Salaries have gone up—nearly double,” the CEO said. He continued, “Everybody should be able to make a great living. You don’t need to have a PhD in computer science to do so.” Through that lens, experts say the investment in trades comes at the right time. Steve Metzmen, CEO of iBusiness Technologies, a mobile technology integrator and Apple partner, where he developed the Connected Apprentice platform for trades workers, tells Fast Company the investment is “very smart” and that “deep funding for trades training is needed now.” The CEO says that’s true given we’re at what he calls an “inflection point” where “cutting-edge technology and long-overdue appreciation for skilled trades are converging at exactly the same moment.” Metzmen continues, comparing the current transformative period to that of the 1800s, when railways were first being built: “Without those tracks, the great transformations of American industry and capitalism were not possible,” Metzmen says. “Required infrastructure had to come first, everything else waited and followed,” the CEO adds. Ironically, while BlackRock is clearly invested in supporting trade workers, they’re also deeply committed to the power of AI. In a 2025 transaction—one of the largest data center transactions ever—the firm purchased Aligned Data Centers in a $40 billion deal. “With this investment in Aligned Data Centers, we further our goal of delivering the infrastructure necessary to power the future of AI,” Fink said at the time. Likewise, per the recent announcement, the firm’s contribution will also go toward the building of new AI data centers. Still, while the investment may eventually add to the growing anxiety around AI taking over a growing number of jobs, BlackRock’s investment is bound to help those who want to pursue work in the trades find financial stability in the near future. Metzmen says, “This investment doesn’t just support labor—it helps to relieve the greatest constraint on the entire resource delivery pipeline.” View the full article

The U.S. economy, hobbled by last fall’s 43-day government shutdown, advanced at an unexpectedly sluggish 0.7% annual rate from October through December, the Commerce Department reported Friday in a big downgrade of its initial estimate. Growth in gross domestic product — the nation’s output of goods and services — was down sharply from 4.4% in last year’s third quarter and 3.8% in the second. And the fourth-quarter number was half the government’s first estimate of 1.4%; economists had expected the revision to go the other way — and show stronger growth. Federal government spending and investment, clobbered by the shutdown, plunged at a 16.7% rate, hacking 1.16 percentage points off fourth-quarter growth. For all of 2025, GDP grew 2.1%, solid but down from an initial estimate of 2.2% and from growth of 2.8% in 2024 and 2.9% 2023. In the fourth quarter, consumer spending grew at a 2% clip, down from 3.5% in the third quarter and the 2.4% the government had initially estimated. Business investment, excluding housing, increased at a healthy 2.2% pace, likely reflecting money being poured into artificial intelligence, but the increase was down from 3.2% in the third quarter and from the 3.7% advance in the Commerce department’s initial estimate. Exports fell at a 3.3% annual rate in the fourth quarter, a bigger drop than the government first estimated. A category within the GDP data that measures the economy’s underlying strength came in weaker than previously reported, growing at a 1.9% clip, down from 2.9% in the third quarter and from the first estimate of 2.4%. This category includes consumer spending and private investment, but excludes volatile items like exports, inventories and government spending. “Following two consecutive strong readings for the second and third quarters, the economy was expected to soften heading into year-end. It’s now increasingly clear that the economy not only slowed but stumbled into the finish line,” Jim Baird, chief investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors, said in a commentary. “The government shutdown was certainly a major factor in the loss of momentum, but a sharp decline in consumption growth also played a role.” The U.S. economy — the world’s largest — has shown surprising resilience in the face of President Donald The President’s policies, including sweeping import taxes and mass deportations. But the war with Iran has driven up oil and gas prices and clouded the economic outlook. Meanwhile, the American job market is in a slump. Last month, companies, nonprofits and government agencies cut 92,000 jobs. In 2025, they added fewer than 10,000 jobs a month, the weakest hiring outside recession years since 2002. Friday’s GDP was the second of the three estimates of fourth-quarter growth. The final report is due April 9. —Paul Wiseman, AP economics writer View the full article

Feeld markets itself as “the dating app for the curious.” For most of its users, that means curiosity about kink and casual sex—but its newest tool asks you to be curious about yourself. As a favorite platform for the kink, fetish, and non-mongamous communities, Feeld is a place where taboos are the norm. But a new survey from the app suggests that kink is more mainstream than dominant culture would have you believe. And Feeld’s new tool, Reflections, accompanies the data by letting anyone, Feeld users and otherwise, assess their own relationship with nontraditional sex. Feeld surveyed thousands of both its own users and external respondents for opinions on the perceived normality of traits like non-monogamy, queerness, and kinkiness. It published the results in a report titled State of Reflections, Vol. 1. The survey found that while Feeld users were unsurprisingly more open-minded on average, the general public wasn’t far behind in its attitudes toward non-vanilla sex. Nearly half of non-Feeld users (42%) said they practice kink, compared to 68% of the app’s user base. In some areas, everyday folks were even kinkier than Feeld members: Among those who practice kink, 44% of external respondents said they engage in role play, just above the 41% of Feeld users that said the same. But despite what’s actually happening behind closed doors, kink remains largely stigmatized. Only 25% of non-Feeld users said that talking about safe sex is normal, and just 23% said it’s normal to prioritize conversations about consent. And 28% of those external participants believe alternative relationship structures—dynamics like ethical non-monogamy—are somewhat or extremely abnormal. Reflecting on taboos In service of breaking down those stigmas, Feeld launched Reflections, its new self-assessment tool. Reflections is a collection of surveys, where respondents rate their interests and behaviors across three categories: desire, boundaries, and relationships. In the desire section, users reflect on their comfort with a variety of kinks, from being blindfolded to roleplaying a doctor/patient relationship or bringing toys into the bedroom. The boundaries section asks them to consider what qualifies as a red flag in a relationship—going through a partner’s phone without consent might be a bridge too far, for example—and how much any given partner impacts their own self-expression. Finally, the relationships portion delves into attachment style and interest in non-monogamy. After each section, Feeld provides an analysis of those answers, providing scores out of 100 under headings including “kink affinity,” “feeling authentic in sex,” and “voice and consent.” (Reflections is available to anyone online, or to users directly in the Feeld app.) In a press release, Feeld CEO Ana Kirova described Reflections as “one of the most defining experiences we’ve brought to Feeld.” “It embodies what we’ve always stood for—curiosity, self-discovery, and openness—while reflecting our core belief that meaningful connection starts with self-understanding,” Kirova said. “Reflections creates the space for introspection, so every connection that follows can be more honest, intentional, and true to who you are.” View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. The feature I love most on the Coros Pace 4 right now is one that I didn’t even notice at first. I knew that it had an extra button compared to the Pace 3, and I knew that I could use it to drop “voice pins” when I was out on my trail runs. I’m always fumbling with buttons to mark water taps or interesting things I find in the woods, so this seemed useful—but once I realized I could also use the feature to record end-of-workout notes, I suddenly became the kind of person who keeps end-of-workout notes. Coros Pace 4 $249.00 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $249.00 at Amazon On the Pace 4, when a workout is over—any workout, be it a trail run or a strength session—you have the option to rate how hard it was. And once you do that, you get an option to record a 60-second voice note with anything you’d like to say about your training. A Coros rep told me in a briefing that it’s meant to help athletes add notes to their training log, since we don’t all have time to remember to come back and add those notes in text. To be honest, I didn’t realize you could already add notes to training sessions after the fact. But once I knew about this voice feature, I found myself using it all the time. Heck, I started to look forward to that prompt. At first I just logged a few words about how the workout felt, but then I realized I could also use it to bridge the gap between my paper and digital records. When I do a strength workout, I jot down my sets, reps, and weights in a notebook. Even though I have tons of fitness apps at my disposal, it’s a lot easier to write down “hang power snatch plus snatch” than it is to search through a database of exercises and then try to figure out how to log two exercises in the same rep. ('ve yet to encounter a strength app that does this well.) It’s easier to have everything on paper. So now, when my workout ends, I read the highlights of my training log into the voice note. This way, when I look back at the workout on my phone, I have the data I need, plus any little notes I thought to add about my mindset that day, or the intensity, or any modifications I made in the moment. A few of the notes I've captured Credit: Beth Skwarecki The Coros app transcribes the note, so I can skim it as text when I look at my workout later. But the audio file is right there, should I want to listen to it to verify what I said. It’s also kind of a touching slice of life—I can hear my daughter interrupt me in one note, with my “wait sweetie” dutifully transcribed in the middle of a sentence. On another workout, I can hear myself laughing a bit as I describe getting caught by surprise by a muddy trail section. It’s safe to say I wouldn’t have returned to the app to add a text note about these things, but I do really enjoy being prompted to add them with my voice. Coros has this feature on the Pace 4, Apex 4, and Nomad watches. Amazfit has a similar feature on the T-Rex 3 and T-Rex 3 Pro. Garmin has a voice note feature on newer Forerunner and Fenix watches, but it’s a bit clunkier and doesn’t prompt you at the end of the workout like Coros does. Still, any of them can be a useful addition to your workout routine. View the full article

Financial planning rarely works well when income and expenses are scattered across notes, apps or disconnected files. A well-structured budget spreadsheet helps bring those numbers together so spending, savings and financial decisions can be managed with clarity. The free templates featured in this blog provide individuals, teams and businesses with practical tools to organize financial data, monitor expenses and maintain better control over their budgeting activities. Budget spreadsheets for Excel or Google Sheets are useful, but whenever you’re ready to make a budget for personal, professional or business projects, try ProjectManager instead. ProjectManager is an award-winning project management software equipped with advanced cost management features that allow organizations to create detailed project schedules, estimate costs, establish a budget, allocate resources and track costs in real time as work is executed. Get started for free today. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/construction-gantt-resources-costs-150-CTA-BUTTON-1.jpgLearn more 1. Budget Spreadsheet Template for Excel A budget spreadsheet is a financial planning document used to organize income and expenses within a defined period. It helps individuals, teams and organizations estimate spending, track financial activity and compare planned versus actual amounts. By structuring financial data into clear rows and columns, a budget spreadsheet makes budget management, cost tracking and financial planning easier to monitor and control. /wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Budget-Sheet-Template-600x326.png This free budget spreadsheet template allows individuals and small business owners to record income, log expenses and monitor how those transactions affect their available budget throughout the budgeting period. As entries are added, built-in formulas automatically update totals, calculate variances and adjust the remaining balance, giving users a simple way to maintain ongoing budget tracking. Date: Records when each income or expense occurs so transactions remain tied to the selected budgeting period and can be reviewed in chronological order. Category: Organizes entries into financial groupings that help users evaluate spending patterns, identify priorities and summarize budget activity across different areas. Expense/Income Type: Specifies whether a transaction represents incoming funds or an expense, clarifying how the entry impacts the available budget balance. Description: Provides a short explanation of the transaction so individual income sources or expenses remain easy to identify during budget reviews. Frequency: Indicates how often the transaction occurs—such as weekly, monthly or one-time—supporting recurring expense planning and long-term budgeting. Budgeted Amount: Displays the planned financial amount assigned to an income source or expense category, serving as the target used for budget planning. Actual Amount: Records the real amount earned or spent during the budgeting period, allowing users to track financial performance against the planned budget. Difference: Automatically calculates the variance between the planned and actual values, highlighting overspending, underspending or potential savings. Notes: Offers space to document additional context, explanations or reminders that help clarify transactions during financial reviews. 2. Budget Spreadsheet Template for Google Sheets Within most organizations, a budget spreadsheet acts as the central document for planning, organizing and reviewing financial activity across a defined timeframe. Teams use it to estimate expenses, allocate funds, monitor spending patterns and compare estimated costs against real financial performance throughout the year. /wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Google-Sheets-budget-template-600x207.png This free budget spreadsheet template organizes annual financial planning by category while distributing estimated and actual costs across every month of the year. Users enter quantities, unit costs and recurrence types, allowing the spreadsheet to calculate totals automatically while showing how spending evolves throughout the budgeting cycle. Company and date header: Identifies the organization responsible for the budget and establishes the timeframe used to organize all financial planning and tracking activities. Category section: Groups expenses into major operational areas such as staffing, hardware, cybersecurity, software and project costs to improve financial analysis. Quantity and cost per unit fields: Capture purchase management details for each item or service so estimated costs can be calculated consistently across the budget. Estimated cost and recurrence column: Defines the planned financial commitment for each line item and indicates whether the cost occurs monthly, annually or once. Monthly estimated and actual columns: Allow users to monitor how spending unfolds each month while comparing projections against real financial activity. Total annual budget calculation: Automatically aggregates the full year of estimated spending across categories to provide a clear overview of total planned costs. Notes column: Provides additional context about purchases, assumptions or financial decisions that may affect how the budget is interpreted later. 3. Project Budget Spreadsheet Template for Excel A project budget is a financial plan that estimates the total cost required to complete a project. It outlines expected spending across categories such as labor, materials, equipment and other expenses so project managers can allocate resources, monitor financial performance and control costs throughout the project lifecycle. /wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Project-Budget-Screenshot-600x167.jpg This project budget spreadsheet organizes project costs by task using a work breakdown structure (WBS). Users assign tasks, estimate labor hours, input hourly rates and record material or fixed expenses. As actual costs are entered, the sheet compares budgeted versus actual spending and automatically calculates under- or over-budget balances. 4. Project Budget Spreadsheet Template for Google Sheets Structurally, this template mirrors the Excel project budget spreadsheet described earlier, using the same task-based layout, labor calculations and cost tracking columns. The difference is that it runs in Google Sheets, which allows teams to collaborate online, update budget data simultaneously and access project financial information from any device with real-time synchronization. /wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Project-Budget-Template-for-Google-Sheets-600x182.png 5. 50/30/20 Budget Spreadsheet Template for Excel A 50/30/20 budget is a personal financial planning framework that divides income into three spending categories. Fifty percent covers essential living expenses, thirty percent supports discretionary spending and twenty percent is allocated to savings or debt reduction. This personal budgeting method helps individuals balance daily costs, lifestyle spending and long-term financial goals. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/50-30-20-template-600x231.png This 50/30/20 budget spreadsheet begins with monthly after-tax income and automatically distributes available funds into the three budgeting categories. Users list specific expenses under needs, wants and savings sections while the template calculates totals, shows available funds and highlights whether each category remains within its recommended spending limit. 6. 70/20/10 Budget Spreadsheet Template for Excel The 70/20/10 budget is a financial planning method that divides income into three priorities: seventy percent for living expenses, twenty percent for financial goals and ten percent for lifestyle spending. This approach helps individuals structure spending decisions while maintaining a balance between essential costs, savings priorities and discretionary expenses. /wp-content/uploads/2026/01/70-20-10-Template-featured-image-600x217.png This 70/20/10 budget spreadsheet starts by recording monthly income after taxes and then allocates funds into living expenses, financial goals and lifestyle categories. Users enter spending items such as housing, groceries, retirement savings and entertainment while the template calculates totals and displays whether spending remains within each budget allocation. 7. Budget Dashboard Spreadsheet Template for Excel A project budget is a financial plan that estimates how much money a project will require across different cost categories such as labor, materials, equipment and overhead. It helps project managers allocate funds, monitor financial performance and maintain cost control throughout the project lifecycle. /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Budget-dashboard-template-screenshot-600x308.png This budget dashboard template summarizes project cost data using charts and visual reports. The template aggregates totals for direct materials, labor, equipment and overhead, then compares planned versus actual costs. As financial data is updated, charts automatically display cost distribution, variances and the remaining balance across budget categories. 8. Budget Dashboard Spreadsheet Template for Google Sheets This template follows the exact same structure as the Excel version, using visual charts and summary tables to display planned costs, actual spending and budget balances across project categories. The advantage of using Google Sheets is that teams can access the budget dashboard online, collaborate in real time and update financial data simultaneously from any device. /wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Budget-Tracker-for-Google-Sheets-600x303.png 9. Zero-Based Budget Spreadsheet Template for Excel A zero-based budget is a budgeting method where every dollar of income is assigned to a specific purpose until the remaining balance equals zero. Instead of estimating spending loosely, this approach requires individuals to justify each expense category so total income minus total allocations results in a fully planned financial plan. /wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Zero-based-budget-template-600x509.png This zero-based budget spreadsheet starts with total monthly income and assigns every dollar to a specific expense category. Users enter spending amounts for housing, transportation, insurance, savings and discretionary costs. The template totals all expenses and compares them against income to ensure the final balance equals zero. 10. Construction Budget Spreadsheet Template for Excel A construction budget is a financial plan used to estimate and control the costs required to complete a construction project. It organizes expected spending across categories such as labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors and overhead so project teams can allocate resources, monitor construction costs and maintain financial control throughout the building process. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/construction-budget-for-excel-screenshot-600x160.png This construction budget spreadsheet organizes project costs using a work breakdown structure that lists construction tasks and assigns responsibility. Users enter labor hours, hourly rates, materials quantities and equipment costs. The template calculates totals automatically and compares budgeted versus actual costs to highlight whether the project remains under or over budget. 11. Event Budget Spreadsheet Template for Excel An event budget is a financial planning tool used to estimate and manage the costs required to organize and deliver an event. It organizes expected expenses across categories such as venue rental, vendors, equipment, travel, marketing and staffing so planners can allocate funds, track spending and keep the event within budget. /wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Event-budget-template-screenshot-600x481.jpg This event budget spreadsheet organizes expenses by event categories such as venue, equipment, travel and marketing. Users list vendors or contractors, estimate labor and material costs and track actual spending as the event progresses. Subtotals calculate automatically, helping event planners monitor total costs and maintain control over the event budget. 12. Event Budget Spreadsheet Template for Google Sheets This template uses the same structure as the Excel event budget spreadsheet described above, organizing event costs by category, vendor and cost type while calculating totals and subtotals automatically. The advantage of using Google Sheets is that event teams can collaborate in real time, update expenses simultaneously and access the budget dashboard from any device with an internet connection. /wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Event-Budget-Template-for-Google-Sheets-600x370.png ProjectManager Offers Robust Budgeting and Cost Management Features ProjectManager is an award-winning project management software equipped with workload management charts, timesheets, real-time project and portfolio management dashboards and reports that allow organizations to create project budgets, compare their estimates against actual project costs and monitor expenses at the task level. Watch the video to learn more! Related Budgeting Content 5 Personal Budget Templates for Excel (Free Download) How to Make a Budget Plan for Personal Finance Management 18 Budget Templates for Business & Project Budgeting How to Make a Project Budget: Project Budgeting Basics (Templates Included) How to Manage a Project Budget with Project Budgeting Software ProjectManager is award-winning software that allows organizations across industries to manage projects from start to finish. Our collaborative platform connects everyone on the project team and lets them work with the tools they want. Plan, monitor and report on every aspect of your projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post 12 Free Budget Spreadsheet Templates for Excel and Google Sheets appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

SerpApi is asking a federal court to dismiss Reddit’s lawsuit over alleged scraping of Reddit content from Google Search, saying Reddit is trying to use copyright law to control user posts and public search results. The motion follows Reddit’s amended complaint filed in February. SerpApi says the filing still fails to show copyright ownership, circumvention of technical protections, or concrete harm. SerpApi’s argument. SerpApi CEO Julien Khaleghy, in a blog post today, argued the lawsuit fails for several reasons: Reddit doesn’t own most of the content at issue. Its user agreement states that users retain ownership. Reddit holds only a non-exclusive license to user posts. The snippets cited in the complaint (e.g., dates, addresses, short fragments) aren’t copyrightable. SerpApi accessed Google Search pages, not Reddit itself. DMCA. Khaleghy said Reddit claims SerpApi violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) by circumventing technical protections. SerpApi disputes that claim, saying it retrieves the same search results visible to anyone who enters a query in Google. Khaleghy argued that: SerpApi doesn’t break encryption or bypass authentication. Accessing public webpages isn’t “circumvention” under the DMCA. Reddit is trying to enforce copyright protections it doesn’t own. Reddit’s privacy policy states that public posts may appear in search results. Catch up quick. Legal fights over search scraping and AI data have intensified in recent months: Oct. 22: Reddit sued SerpApi, Perplexity, Oxylabs, and AWMProxy, alleging they scraped Reddit content through Google Search and reused it at scale. Reddit said it planted a “trap” post visible only to Google’s crawler that later appeared in Perplexity responses. Oct. 29: SerpApi said it would fight the lawsuit, calling the allegations inflammatory and defending access to public search data. Dec. 19: Google sued SerpApi, alleging the company bypassed bot protections and scraped licensed search features. Feb. 23: SerpApi asked a federal court to dismiss Google’s lawsuit, arguing Google is misusing the DMCA to restrict access to public search results. Why we care. The case tests whether companies can extract information from Google’s search results without violating copyright or the DMCA. The outcome could affect SEO tools and AI training data. What’s next. The court must decide whether Reddit’s amended complaint can proceed. If the judge dismisses the case with prejudice, Reddit’s claims against SerpApi in this lawsuit would end. SerpApi’s blog post. Reddit’s Lawsuit is a Dangerous Attempt to Expand Platform Power View the full article

Global events hide mistakes, confer agency and are exciting to bootView the full article

A recent SurveyMonkey study sheds light on the evolving landscape for women in the workplace, highlighting both the strides made and the challenges that remain. Conducted from February 10-16, 2026, this extensive survey included responses from 6,330 adults, with a significant focus on 3,048 women. Given its robust sample size, the findings carry valuable insights for small business owners looking to foster diverse and inclusive workplace environments. The survey reveals that women continue to face unique hurdles in the professional arena. Despite ongoing progress in certain fields, many women report significant barriers to career advancement and equitable treatment compared to their male counterparts. This presents small business owners with both an opportunity and a challenge; emphasizing a supportive environment for female employees can help attract and retain top talent while also enhancing workplace morale. Key takeaways from the survey indicate that while many women appreciate the flexibility their companies offer, a significant number still feel underrepresented in leadership roles. Business owners should note that promoting women into leadership and decision-making positions not only contributes to a more equitable workplace but can also drive better business performance. As the study points out, companies that prioritize diversity typically enjoy a greater range of insights and ideas, leading to innovative solutions and better outcomes. “Employers must recognize the importance of women’s voices in shaping their organizations,” says a representative from SurveyMonkey. “When women occupy leadership roles, it not only empowers those individuals but also serves as a model for aspiring employees.” This perspective underscored in the survey suggests that cultivating a diverse workforce can be a strategic advantage for small businesses aiming to thrive in competitive markets. Small business owners should also consider the implications of flexible work arrangements, which have become increasingly important for retaining female employees. The study indicates that many women value flexibility in their work schedules, particularly when it comes to balancing professional responsibilities with family life. Business owners looking to implement or enhance flexible work policies may find that doing so not only aids in retention but also boosts overall employee satisfaction across the board. However, these changes come with challenges. Implementing new policies to foster inclusion and support work-life balance requires careful planning and commitment. Business owners might initially encounter resistance or skepticism from those accustomed to traditional work practices. Clear communication about the reasons behind these changes, along with continuous training and support, can help ease this transition. The survey underscores the importance of not only listening to employee feedback but actively engaging in dialogue about workplace culture. Small business owners can leverage tools like anonymous surveys to gauge employee sentiment and identify areas for improvement. By gathering ongoing insights, businesses can adapt more effectively to employee needs and create a work environment that prioritizes inclusivity. Moreover, the data reveal that mentorship plays a crucial role in women’s career advancements. Small businesses can take advantage of mentorship programs that connect rising female leaders with experienced professionals in the industry. Establishing such initiatives not only fosters a sense of community but also equips women with the skills and networks needed to navigate their career paths successfully. Ultimately, embracing these changes elevates the entire team and can set a small business apart in an increasingly competitive landscape. By prioritizing women’s advancement and creating a supportive environment, small business owners can drive engagement, innovation, and loyalty among their workforce. This ongoing dialogue about women in the workplace is pivotal as businesses strategize for growth. Small business owners should view the findings from the SurveyMonkey study as not just data points but as critical insights for fostering a more inclusive workforce. For more details, you can access the full survey findings at SurveyMonkey. Image via Google Gemini This article, "New SurveyMonkey Study Highlights Workplace Gains and Ongoing Barriers for Women" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A recent SurveyMonkey study sheds light on the evolving landscape for women in the workplace, highlighting both the strides made and the challenges that remain. Conducted from February 10-16, 2026, this extensive survey included responses from 6,330 adults, with a significant focus on 3,048 women. Given its robust sample size, the findings carry valuable insights for small business owners looking to foster diverse and inclusive workplace environments. The survey reveals that women continue to face unique hurdles in the professional arena. Despite ongoing progress in certain fields, many women report significant barriers to career advancement and equitable treatment compared to their male counterparts. This presents small business owners with both an opportunity and a challenge; emphasizing a supportive environment for female employees can help attract and retain top talent while also enhancing workplace morale. Key takeaways from the survey indicate that while many women appreciate the flexibility their companies offer, a significant number still feel underrepresented in leadership roles. Business owners should note that promoting women into leadership and decision-making positions not only contributes to a more equitable workplace but can also drive better business performance. As the study points out, companies that prioritize diversity typically enjoy a greater range of insights and ideas, leading to innovative solutions and better outcomes. “Employers must recognize the importance of women’s voices in shaping their organizations,” says a representative from SurveyMonkey. “When women occupy leadership roles, it not only empowers those individuals but also serves as a model for aspiring employees.” This perspective underscored in the survey suggests that cultivating a diverse workforce can be a strategic advantage for small businesses aiming to thrive in competitive markets. Small business owners should also consider the implications of flexible work arrangements, which have become increasingly important for retaining female employees. The study indicates that many women value flexibility in their work schedules, particularly when it comes to balancing professional responsibilities with family life. Business owners looking to implement or enhance flexible work policies may find that doing so not only aids in retention but also boosts overall employee satisfaction across the board. However, these changes come with challenges. Implementing new policies to foster inclusion and support work-life balance requires careful planning and commitment. Business owners might initially encounter resistance or skepticism from those accustomed to traditional work practices. Clear communication about the reasons behind these changes, along with continuous training and support, can help ease this transition. The survey underscores the importance of not only listening to employee feedback but actively engaging in dialogue about workplace culture. Small business owners can leverage tools like anonymous surveys to gauge employee sentiment and identify areas for improvement. By gathering ongoing insights, businesses can adapt more effectively to employee needs and create a work environment that prioritizes inclusivity. Moreover, the data reveal that mentorship plays a crucial role in women’s career advancements. Small businesses can take advantage of mentorship programs that connect rising female leaders with experienced professionals in the industry. Establishing such initiatives not only fosters a sense of community but also equips women with the skills and networks needed to navigate their career paths successfully. Ultimately, embracing these changes elevates the entire team and can set a small business apart in an increasingly competitive landscape. By prioritizing women’s advancement and creating a supportive environment, small business owners can drive engagement, innovation, and loyalty among their workforce. This ongoing dialogue about women in the workplace is pivotal as businesses strategize for growth. Small business owners should view the findings from the SurveyMonkey study as not just data points but as critical insights for fostering a more inclusive workforce. For more details, you can access the full survey findings at SurveyMonkey. Image via Google Gemini This article, "New SurveyMonkey Study Highlights Workplace Gains and Ongoing Barriers for Women" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article